FARMINGTON — Farmington resident Brady Harris was appointed to serve as student regent on the Utah State Board of Regents for the 2014-15 school year, according to a press release from Weber State University.

Harris, a student at WSU, has been involved in student leadership for several years, including two years as student senator at the university.

For another two years, he served as executive vice president and senate president of the WSU Student Association.

“Brady Harris’ extensive background in student government, as well as his advocacy for various student-led initiatives, makes him a valuable asset to the Board of Regents,” said Gov. Gary Herbert, according to the release.

Herbert, who made the appointment, said Harris’ perspective will benevit students around the state.

“He will be an effective voice for the opinions and concertns of his peers in our higher education system,” said Herbert.

The board is made up of 19 regents, who are tasked with selecting presidents, setting policy, approving programs and submitting a higher education budget to the governor and state legislature, according to the release.

Fifteen of the members are appointed by the governor to six-year terms. The student position is for one year only.

“To have the opportunity to serve students, not just at Weber State but statewide, was appealing to me,” said Harris, who became interested in the position during his first year in college. “It has been the realization of a dream.”

The first WSU student appointed in more than 10 years, Harris said his main objective is to visit various campuses and get to know the issues each university faces, said the release.

“I am a huge advocate for the importance of having a student representation in the policymaking process,” he is quoted as saying. “It is difficult to know exactly how issues affect students. If you are not an active student, it can be hard to see things from that perspective when making administrative decisions.

“Working together is very powerful,” he said. “Everybody I ever worked with was always willing to improve things for the betterment of students.”